Cambridge is about to step back in time – for the city’s annual History Festival.

Dozens of talks and street tours celebrating the heritage of the city are lined up for the 17-day extravaganza, starting on Thursday, January 9.

The festival is organised under the aegis of the Museum of Cambridge, formerly the Folk Museum, and many of the events will take place there.

But the first talk, the Enid Porter Memorial Lecture, will be held at Castle Hill Methodist Church on Thursday at 7pm. Given by Cambridge professor Simon Schaffer, it will focus on science and industry in the city in Victorian times.

Read More

Organiser Caroline Biggs said: “The festival programme includes talks about the River Cam, old Fenland storytellers, local dialects, and Cambridgeshire in the First World War.

Caroline Biggs, organiser of Cambridge History Festival

“People will be able to explore the hidden history of the city through historical walking tours and learn traditional techniques in hands-on workshops. We will also be gathering local stories and memories through our community project, Capturing Cambridge.

“And we will be helping people to find out more about Cambridge Inns and enjoy beer tasting at the former White Horse Inn with CAMRA.”

Cambridge’s infamous Spy Ring, Pink Floyd, and how the Witchfinder General terrorised Cambridgeshire are all on the agenda too.

Cambridge History Festival programme

On Sunday, February 12, there will be tours looking at how Cambridge was once an inland port, and at the city’s vanished pubs.

The following day, the museum will host an illustrated talk on how the city cleaned up its river pollution, and on Valentine’s Day, February 14, there will be a re-enactment at the museum of how the Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins put local women on trial for witchcraft.